Register here to join us for breakfast and learn from youth how the Youth Services of Catholic Community Services and its programs
support young people as they transition from challenging beginnings to successful adult lives-ready to achieve big dreams.

Tickets to this event are complimentary. Guests will be asked to make a gift to support Youth Services and its programs (which include Zine Project Seattle). These gifts help sustain the critical work of Youth Services throughout the year.

Can’t join us but want to support Youth Services? Make your gift here.

For more information about the event,
please contact Rebecca Kuenzel at 206-328-5659.

Previously, we’ve written about how Youthcare’s Barista Program is a landing pad for Zine graduates to pursue further employment opportunities (click here to read previous post).

Josh at Barista Graduation

This is no truer than ever after last Friday’s Barista Graduation event. The final 2012 Barista cohort contained two former Zine superstars–Josh and Justin who rocked it in Zine and, not surprisingly, went on to rock it in Barista.

Justin at the Barista Graduation

For two weeks they studied coffee. For five weeks they worked at a cafe serving real life customers at Fare Start’s Cafe at the 2100 building in South Seattle. And for a final week they looked for jobs, getting a chance to get interviewed by current management at neighboring Starbucks.

Last Friday, they celebrated. The Barista Grads made gourmet drinks for their guests and then got a chance to read words of thanks.

Graduation from Barista meant employment success continued from their Zine Project tenure. But, of course, it meant more. It meant a moment of victory for young people still struggling with difficult issues like poverty and addiction that make it difficult for young people to finish things.

Justin, after thanking the Barista staff and his fellow graduates, shared the following:

I had a lot of struggles during the program. Fears of the future, guilt from the past, stuff that matters, and mostly, just stuff that really shouldn’t matter but does. I was scared I wouldn’t finish the program a few times. I hit a rough spot, a rough week really, and I was doubtful I would get out of it.

To quote one of my favorite writers, Hubert Selby, and I’m paraphrasing here: “We despair because we choose to fight against pain instead of letting go”. That clicked on one of those despair days, and I promised myself that I would work to get better. I don’t want to fight pain anymore. It’s just as much a part of me as the happiness I feel here now. And you know what? Its ok to hurt sometimes, because it sure as heck makes these moments when I feel accomplished that much better.

Justin with Barista Completion Certificate

This is a crucial insight. Especially considering that so many youth problems stem from the impulse to fly from feeling pain. An insight gleaned from literature, acted out in the crucible of meaningful work and shared through the spoken word with the young person’s community: this is what Zine hopes for for all of its graduates.

It’s a tall order. But both Justin and Josh did it last Friday.

Justin continued:

I had a blast in this program. I am most happy when I’m bettering myself and my craft, be it writing, or running, or making coffee. It satiates me spiritually. My idea of happiness is something that takes struggle and change. Something that is built with my hands. We are the sculptors as well as the marble as the saying goes. And though I’m not perfect, and have plenty of work to do. I’m happy to say that I’m finally sculpting the person I want to become.

Josh with Barista Completion Certificate

Way to go Barista Grads!

Click here to check out more of Justin’s writing in his zine, Unhinged.

CMD+P, a new art gallery in Pioneer Square, is currently displaying Zine Project zines for purchase!

A collaboration between Efflux Creations and Sanctuary Art Center, the gallery is dedicated “to creating art and apparel for social change” and hosts artwork and apparel designed and created by street involved youth.

Zines at CMD+P are $5 Full color!

CMD+P Gallery

CMD+P (on the southeast corner of 2nd & Yesler) opened its doors back in , selling, along with our zines, t-shirts printed by interns in

W.A.G.E.S.—another prevocational program like the Zine Project. The gallery is currently opened Wednesdays through Fridays 12-6pm and for the first Thursday Art Walk from 6-10pm.

I paid them a visit on October’s First Thursday and checked out how our zines were doing.

They’re available on sale at $5 for full color, so stop by this Thursday, November 1st and have some fun on the town and support local youth

The Seattle/ King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH) was hosting its 2012 Youth Advocacy Summit. The event was a two day effort to mobilize homeless youth to advocate for themselves to the City Council Members, who will soon be helping Mayor McGinn hammer out Seattle’s 2013 budget.

As youth benefitting from a pre-employment program supported by the city, our interns attended the Youth Summit, hoping to share their experience with decision makers in a meaningful way.

To make this hope real, Ziners showed up at the crack of dawn and road a bus downtown, then hiked up a hill to Yesler Terrace Community Center, to attend Day 1 of Youth Summit.

It was gear-up day. Rather than just shoving the youth raw through the glass doors of policy makers, SKCCH takes a whole day to educate interested youth around advocacy strategies. Youth listened to speakers like Jim Theofolis, founder of The Mockingbird Society. Theofolis, with his loud, gravelly voice and wisdom, stirred the room.

“If you’re not at the table,” Theofolis began. “You’re on the table.”

In his speech, he told the youth about the three R’s of advocacy, which state that citizens have:

The Right to say what needs to be said,

The Responsibility to say what needs to be said,

Even while being Respectful to policy makers who don’t understand.

Ziners Debate

Having been inspired, Ziners broke up into groups with other Seattle homeless youth. They brainstormed about pressing issues like employment, housing, and shelter and voted on the key topics they would present the next day.

Like all political discussions, there was emotion. Even some lulls of indecision. But everyone made it through the day more ready to thoughtfully represent themselves.

Lulls of indecision

Taking place on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11, Day 2 of Youth Advocacy Summit hummed with energy and anticipation. Continuing on in their groups, the youth had two precious hours to hammer out their concerns before they had to present them to real, live Council Members.

Youth Hammering Out their Employment Presentation

Zine interns sat on Youth Summit’s Employment Committee. With the reality of sitting before a power figure looming over them, they wrote and rehearsed earnestly.

Then 1pm came and the Employment Group was led up the slab-like stairs of City Hall and ushered into Council Member Clark’s private waiting area.

Things about to get real

Sally Clark serves on the Committee for Economic Resiliency and Regional Relations. She has an interest in internships and employment projects that put people to work; she also proved to be an approachable and keen listener. Council Member Clark sat the group around a large round table in a room with wall to wall glass windows. The brilliant September sun lit up the room and made the wood of the tables and chairs smell warm. Seated, well-groomed and ready, the youth cleared their throats and started to speak.

Youth who’d experienced Youthcare’s Tile Project, YMCA’s W.A.G.E.S., as well as Zine, were present. Each youth began by sharing with Clark three words that described their work experience in city supported work programs.

“Freedom, expression, creative,” said one youth.

“Integrity, fun, team work,” said another.

Fast paced, excellent, enjoyable, self-motivating, supported, hard-work, character building, hands-on. Worth the trip. The youth delivered their words with confidence and then began to get specific.

Youth at the Table

Council Member Clark gazed attentively as Michelle, Zine Intern, shared that for her, Zine gave her “something to wake up for”.

“We want you to keep supporting programs like Zine. We need this,” she said. “In the three weeks that I’ve been at Zine, I’ve learned a lot and without it, I may not have had the courage to present myself today.”

Council President Clark Listens

Others shared how employment programs like The Zine Project aren’t just jobs, their supportive resources for young adults with little experience and difficult situations to get basic needs met. Zine interns who show up early often shower or get a fresh change of clothes. And everybody gets breakfast.

“Zine is a jumpstart,” stated Zine intern Michael.

Clark affirmed many of their comments.

As with all good proposals, the youth had an ask. They asked Council Member Clark to not only argue for a sustained budget for Working Zone and other programs, but also to expand them.